JP2010522605A - Washing machine having a blower - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a blower, and more particularly to a washing machine including a blower for improving drying efficiency during a drying operation. In the washing machine according to the present invention, a cabinet to which a door is attached, a tab provided inside the cabinet, a washing tub provided inside the tab, an outside of the cabinet, and an inside of the washing tub communicate with each other. It is characterized by including the air blower installed.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to an air blower, and more particularly, to a washing machine including an air blower that can improve drying efficiency.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a general washing machine.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a washing machine according to the prior art includes a cabinet 10 in which an opening 12 is formed and a door 14 is installed, a tab 16 installed in the cabinet 10 and containing washing water, and a tab. 16 is rotatably installed inside the laundry tub 18 in which the laundry is stored, the drive 16 installed on the tab 16 and connected to the laundry tub 18, and connected to the tab 16 from the outside of the cabinet 10, A water supply device 19 for supplying the washing water and a drainage device 20 extending from the tab 16 to the outside of the cabinet 10 and discharging the washing water to the outside are included.

  Thus, when the laundry is started after the door 14 is opened and the laundry is stored in the washing tub 18, the washing water is supplied to the washing tub 18 and the tab 16 through the water supply device 19. Then, by applying power to the driving device 17, a washing operation is performed while the washing tub 18 rotates. When the washing operation is completed, the washing water is discharged to the outside of the cabinet 10 through the drainage device 20.

  When such a washing operation and a rinsing operation are completed, a drying operation is performed by applying power to the drive device 17 in a state where the washing water is drained.

  When the rotary drying operation is started, the moisture of the laundry is discharged to the tab 16 side through a large number of holes (not shown) formed in the washing tub 18 due to the centrifugal force of the rotating washing tub 18. The washing water collected in the tab 16 is discharged to the outside of the cabinet 10 along the drainage device 20.

  However, in the washing machine according to the prior art, when the washing water is discharged along the drainage device 20, the drainage device 20 including the drainage pipe 22 and the drainage valve 24 extended from the tab 16 to the outside of the cabinet 10, A drainage channel for discharging moisture is formed, but there is no separate intake channel. For this reason, when the drying operation is performed while the washing tub rotates at a high speed, the pressure inside the washing tub 18 and the tab 16 becomes low, and the air pressure discharged through the drainage device 20 does not rise above a predetermined value. There is a problem that it is low.

  The present invention has been made to improve the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of improving the drying efficiency.

  A washing machine according to the present invention for solving the above problems includes a cabinet to which a door is attached, a tab provided inside the cabinet, a washing tub provided inside the tab, and an outside of the cabinet. And a blower installed so as to communicate with the inside of the washing tub.

  Moreover, the air blower of this invention is mounted | worn with the said door.

  Moreover, the air blower of this invention is characterized by including the through-hole part formed in the intake block arrange | positioned at a cabinet.

  The blower according to the present invention further includes an opening / closing part mounted on the intake block so as to open / close the through hole part.

  The opening / closing part of the present invention includes an opening / closing member that opens and closes the through-hole part, a driving part that drives the opening / closing member, and a control part that controls the operation of the driving part.

  The intake block according to the present invention is formed along an edge of the door.

  In addition, the through hole portion of the present invention is formed to be bent.

  Also, one side of the through hole portion of the present invention is formed inside the washing tub.

  Further, the washing machine according to the present invention includes a drain pipe installed so as to communicate with the tab, a drain valve installed in the drain pipe and opening and closing the drain pipe, and an operation of the drain valve according to a washing process. And a control unit for controlling.

  The washing machine according to the present invention configured as described above has an air exhausted through a drain pipe when a drying operation is performed by installing a blower that supplies external air to the inside of the tub and the washing tub. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the pressure inside the tab from being lowered, so that there is an advantage that air is smoothly circulated and the drying efficiency is improved. In addition, unlike the conventional invention, the present invention can improve the drying efficiency even if a separate drying device such as a heater is not installed. Further, the present invention has the advantage that the drying efficiency can be improved even if a drying device such as a heater is not installed, thereby reducing the number of parts, simplifying the structure, and lowering the unit price of the product. .

It is sectional drawing which showed the general washing machine. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is detail drawing of the A section shown in FIG. 2, and is sectional drawing which showed the air blower which concerns on the 1st Example of this invention. 1 is a plan view showing a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is the block diagram which showed the drainage apparatus of the washing machine which concerns on 1st Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing which showed the air blower of the washing machine which concerns on the 2nd Example of this invention. It is the block diagram which showed the air blower of the washing machine which concerns on the 2nd Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing which showed the air blower of the washing machine which concerns on the 3rd Example of this invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the washing machine according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For convenience of explanation, a top door type washing machine will be described as an example. In this process, the thicknesses of lines and the sizes of components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for the sake of clarity and convenience. Moreover, each term mentioned later is a term defined in consideration of the function in the present invention, and this may vary depending on the intention or practice of the user and the operator. Accordingly, these terms should be defined based on the general content of this specification.

  2 to 5, the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet 50 in which an opening 52 is formed and a door 54 is installed, and is installed in the cabinet 50, and includes washing water. Is connected to the tab 62 from the outside of the cabinet 50, a tab 62 that is rotatably installed inside the tab 62, a washing tub 64 in which the laundry is stored, a driving device 66 that drives the washing tub 64, The water supply device 68 for supplying washing water, the drain device 70 extended from the tab 62 to the outside of the cabinet 50, and the blower device installed so that the outside of the cabinet 50 and the inside of the washing tub 64 are communicated with each other. 80.

  When the laundry operation is started after the door 54 is opened and the laundry is stored inside the washing tub, the washing water is supplied to the tab 62 by the water supply device 68 and the power is applied to the driving device 66. The washing operation proceeds while the washing tub 64 rotates. When such a washing operation and a rinsing operation are completed, the drying operation is performed while the drive device 66 rotates at a high speed.

  During the drying operation, air outside the cabinet 50 flows into the inside of the washing tub 64 and the tab 62 by the blower 80, so that the pressure inside the tab 62 is reduced while moisture inside the washing tub 64 and the tab 62 escapes. Can be prevented.

  Further, the drainage device 70 includes a drain pipe 72 installed so as to communicate with the tab 62, and a drain valve 74 installed on the drain pipe 72 to open and close the drain pipe 72. On the other hand, the operation of the drain valve 74 is controlled by the control unit 100 described later.

  When the drying operation is started, the driving device 66 rotates at a high speed. When the driving device 66 is driven at a predetermined speed or more, the control unit 100 detects this and opens the drain valve 74. While the drain valve 74 is opened, the external air flowing into the tab 62 and the washing tub 64 through the through-hole portion 82 comes into contact with the laundry, collects moisture, and then flows along the drain pipe 72. It is discharged outside the cabinet 50. Meanwhile, the controller 100 controls the rotational speed and the rotational force of the driving device 66 according to the washing process, and the method for detecting the washing process is generally used in the washing machine. The detailed explanation is omitted.

  The blower 80 is installed on the door 54 so that external air flows into the upper surface of the washing tub 64. The blower 80 includes an intake block 84 in which a through hole portion 82 is formed. External air flows into the internal space of the washing tub 64 through the through-hole portion 82. In particular, since the through hole portion 82 is formed to be bent, external air flowing through the through hole portion 82 flows into the tab 62 and the washing tub 64, and foreign substances flowing through the through hole portion 82 are Are collected on the inner wall of the bent through-hole portion 82. Further, when the washing tub 64 rotates, the air inside the washing tub 64 flows toward the tab 62 side. Due to such air flow, the pressure inside the washing tub 64, that is, the central portion of the washing tub 64 is lowered. Therefore, it is desirable that one end 92 of the through-hole portion 82 is formed so as to be opened in the inner direction of the washing tub 64 so that air can be smoothly circulated.

  The through-hole portion 82 of the present embodiment is formed in the lower direction from the upper surface of the intake block 84, is bent primarily in the lateral direction, is extended by a predetermined distance in the lateral direction, and then the lower direction. It is bent secondarily. The foreign substance passes through the first bent portion 86 of the through-hole portion 82 and is accumulated in the lateral extension 90 of the through-hole portion 82. The extension 90 is located between the first bent portion 86 and the second bent portion 88.

  The intake block 84 in which the through hole portion 82 is formed is installed in the door 54 or the cabinet 50. In order to improve the aesthetics of the washing machine, the intake block 84 is desirably arranged so as to correspond to the shape of the door 54. In this embodiment, the intake block 82 is arranged in a curved shape along the edge of the door 54 that is formed in a circular shape. In this embodiment, the intake block 84 is formed of a separate member from the door 54 and the cabinet 50. However, the door 54 and the cabinet 50 can also function as the intake block 84, and various modifications can be made.

  In order to install the intake block 84 as described above, a step 56 to which the intake block 84 is fixed is formed in the frame portion of the opening 52. Since the step 56 is for fixing the intake block 84, the lower end 92 of the through hole 82 is connected to the door 54 so that interference with the lower end 92 of the through hole 82 does not occur. The lower end 92 of the through hole portion 82 is disposed in the space between the step 56 and corresponds to the inside of the washing tub 64.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described.

  First, after the user opens the door 54, the laundry is stored in the washing tub 64 and then the washing operation is started. Then, the washing water is supplied to the washing tub 64 and the tab 62 by the water supply device 68. When completed, power is applied to the drive device 66, so that the washing operation is performed while the washing water rotates.

  After the washing operation and the rinsing operation are repeated a plurality of times in this manner, the washing water is drained by the drainage device 70, and the drying operation is performed while the drive device 66 rotates at a high speed. Such a series of operations is controlled by the control unit 100.

  When the drying operation is started, the control unit 100 senses the rotational speed of the drive device 66. However, if the rotational speed of the drive device 66 is equal to or higher than a set value, this is sensed as a dry operation and the drain valve 74 is opened. To do. At this time, the air outside the cabinet 52 comes into contact with the laundry while flowing into the inside of the washing tub 64 and the tab 62 through the through-hole portion 82 and absorbs moisture. In this manner, the laundry is dried while the air that has absorbed moisture is discharged to the outside of the cabinet 50 along the drain pipe 72. At this time, since air outside the cabinet 50 flows into the inside of the tab 62 through the through-hole portion 82, the air discharged along the drain pipe 72 reduces the pressure of the air while reducing the pressure inside the tab 62. This can be prevented.

  Although the drying efficiency of the washing machine is improved by the configuration and operation as described above, in order to prove such an effect, the applicant conducted a drying rate measurement test.

  The specifications of the washing machine used for the test are as shown in Table 1 below.

  Table 2 shows changes in the drying rate of the washing machine according to the prior art and the washing machine according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  Here, the drying rate described in Table 2 is obtained by drying a test group of standard cloth, cotton trousers, Y shirt, and cotton trousers + Y shirt + cotton T-shirt + underwear + socks with a washing machine according to the prior art. The drying rate after drying with the washing machine which concerns on 1st Example of this is compared.

  In addition, the test is performed by adding 1.5 kg of each test group, repeating a drying operation for 30 minutes 5 times, and then describing the average value.

  As described above, the drying rate of the washing machine that is remarkably improved by the through-hole portion 82 of the present invention can be known through the experimental values shown in Table 2.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a blower for a washing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the blower for the washing machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention. It is.

  6 and 7, the washing machine according to the second embodiment of the present invention is characterized by an air blower. The air blower 180 according to the second embodiment includes a through-hole portion 182 and a through-hole portion 182. And an opening / closing part 90 that opens and closes the through-hole part 182.

  Here, the opening / closing part 90 includes an opening / closing member 92 that opens and closes the through-hole part 182, a driving part 94 that drives the opening / closing member 92, and a control part 100 that controls the operation of the driving part 94.

  When the control unit 100 senses the drying operation based on the speed change of the driving device 66, the driving unit 94 moves the opening / closing member 92 to open the through hole portion 182.

  Further, when the drying operation is detected by the control unit 100, the drain valve 74 is opened by the opening signal transmitted from the control unit 100, and the air flowing into the washing tub 64 through the through-hole portion 182 absorbs moisture. It is discharged along the drain pipe 72 to the outside of the cabinet 50.

  The opening / closing member 92 of the present embodiment is configured by a panel wound around a gear, and opens and closes the through-hole portion 182 by the operation of the driving portion 94. That is, when a power transmission member such as a gear is rotated by the drive unit 94, the through hole 182 is opened and closed in conjunction with the rotation.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a blower for a washing machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

  Referring to FIG. 8, the third embodiment of the present invention is similar to the second embodiment in that the opening / closing portion 90 opens and closes the through-hole portion 282. However, the third embodiment of the present invention is similar to the second embodiment. The air blower 280 does not include a drive unit that opens and closes the opening / closing member 192.

  The opening / closing member 192 is configured by a panel that is slidably installed inside and outside the through-hole portion 282. Since the guide 194 is formed in the intake block 284, the opening / closing member 192 guides between a first position where the through-hole portion 282 is blocked and a second position where the through-hole portion 282 is not substantially blocked. It becomes possible to slide along 194 stably.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, this is illustrative only and various modifications and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art. It will be appreciated that other embodiments are possible. Moreover, although the washing machine provided with the drying air blower has been described as an example, this is only an example, and the drying machine of the present invention is not limited to the drying air blower used in the washing machine. A blower can be used. Accordingly, the true technical protection scope of the present invention should be determined by the following claims.

Claims (11)

A cabinet to which the door is mounted;
A tab provided inside the cabinet;
A washing tub provided inside the tab;
A washing machine comprising: a blower installed so that the outside of the cabinet communicates with the inside of the washing tub.   The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the blower is attached to the door.   The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the blower includes an intake block, and a through-hole portion formed in the intake block connects the outside of the cabinet and the inside of the washing tub.   The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the air blower further includes an opening / closing part that selectively opens and closes the through hole part. An opening / closing member movable between a first position for opening the through-hole portion and a second position for closing the through-hole portion;
A drive unit for driving movement of the opening and closing member;
The washing machine according to claim 4, further comprising a control unit that controls an operation of the driving unit.   The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the intake block is formed in the cabinet.   The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the intake block is formed along an edge of the door.   The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the intake block is formed such that the through-hole portion is bent.   The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein one end of the through-hole portion is formed so as to open toward an internal space of the washing tub. A drain pipe installed to communicate with the tab;
A drain valve disposed in the drain pipe and formed to selectively open and close the drain pipe;
The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that controls an operation of the drain valve according to a washing process. A drain pipe installed to communicate with the tab;
A drain valve disposed in the drain pipe and formed to selectively open and close the drain pipe;
The washing machine according to claim 5, further comprising a control unit that controls operations of the driving unit and the drain valve according to a washing process.

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